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Guitar playing tips and inspiration to play guitar consistently, have more fun and see more progress with your guitar routine. Every week your host, Tony Polecastro (from tacguitar.com) shows you a new guitar lick and shares new guitar gear and acoustic guitar music he‘s recently found. Tune out the overwhelm of online guitar lesson noise and let Tony be your guide to focus, fun and progress every Tuesday at 10am.
Episodes
Tuesday Oct 02, 2018
Tuesday Oct 02, 2018
➜All show notes and links: https://acousticlife.tv/at58/
➜Get the show: https://tonypolecastro.com/get-acoustic-tuesday
Featured in This Episode...
#4 Boucher Guitars
Boucher Guitars is located in Quebec Canada. They definitely have their finger on the pulse of tradition. They are located in the heart of one of the best places for the raw materials they use in creating their guitars. The vibe of these guitars is steeped in tradition and style.
#3 What's On the Turntable This Week?
This week's featured artist is Tim O'Brien. Tim was recommended by Acoustic Tuesday listener Eric T. from Ontario Canada. Eric said we need to check out Tim's music because of "his versatility and unique flavor."
#2 Manzer Guitars
Linda Manzer is an incredible luthier from Toronto Canada. She's built guitars for Pat Metheny, Carlos Santana, Julian Lage, and many other well-known musicians. Be sure to watch what Pat Metheney has to say about his relationship with Linda.
#1 Parks Guitars
Shelley Park of North Vancouver, BC. Shelley has been building guitars since 1991 and is considered the preeminent gypsy jazz guitar builder. Her guitars are stunning, and most reviews reflect on the laser-like projection of the guitars.
Tuesday Sep 25, 2018
Tuesday Sep 25, 2018
➜All show notes and links: https://acousticlife.tv/at57/
➜Get the show: https://tonypolecastro.com/get-acoustic-tuesday
Featured in This Episode...
#4 Red Bear Picks
I want to share with you my review of the Red Bear Guitar Picks made in Cedar City Utah. This company makes over 30 styles of picks. I tried quite a few, do you want to know what I dug about them? Watch the review to find out!
#3 What's On the Turntable This Week?
This week's featured artist is Boubacar Traoré. One of our listeners recommended this artist and boy am I glad he did! This is the kind of music you can just listen to and zone out...it's almost trance-like. Check it out.
#2 Acoustic Guitar Player 5 Minute Stretch
Stretching is extremely important to your guitar playing journey. These are simple stretches I show you that take very little time.
#1 Lomax: The Songhunter
I want to share with you some insight on the Alan Lomax documentary. In this episode I also share a little discovery with you about Alan's recordings for the Library of Congress.
Tuesday Sep 18, 2018
Tuesday Sep 18, 2018
➜All show notes and links: https://acousticlife.tv/at56/
➜Get the show: https://tonypolecastro.com/get-acoustic-tuesday
Featured in This Episode...
#4 Ernie Ball Aluminum Bronze Strings
I threw these strings on my Thompson Dread, watch the review to see what I thought about them!
#3 What's On the Turntable This Week?
This week's featured acoustic artist is John Oates. John is one half of the best-selling duo of all time Hall & Oates, as well as an accomplished solo artist. I've selected three tunes that I think you'll love.
#2 How To Best Practice Scales (5 Tips)
In this episode I share with you five tips on how to effectively practice your scales and have fun doing so. Scales are an absolute necessity to learn. Scales are where chords come from. They are how we convey musical ideas. They are where melodies are born, and many times the origin of original music. So scales are supremely important.
#1 Bristol Rhythm & Roots Reunion
As a guitar geek you absolutely have to know about the Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion Festival. This festival was recommended by an Acoustic Tuesday viewer and for good reason... it's like an acoustic music showcase.
Tuesday Sep 11, 2018
Tuesday Sep 11, 2018
➜All show notes and links: https://acousticlife.tv/at55/
➜Get the show: https://tonypolecastro.com/get-acoustic-tuesday
Featured in This Episode...
#4 Would You Spend $40 On Strings?
Guitar strings are one of the cheaper experiments you can do to modify the tone of your guitar. That notion held pretty strongly up until about two weeks ago when I bought a set of strings that I certainly wouldn't describe as inexpensive.
#3 What's On the Turntable This Week?
Today's artist feature comes courtesy of Acoustic Tuesday fan Bob W. from Kichener, Ontario. Bob says, "He's an amazing talent that plays with a lot of feel and dynamics and attributes influence from Michael Hedges." I agree with Bob here, in fact, I think you will too. Check out this modern fingerstyle player who uses percussive techniques...
#2 Honeyboy's Life In A Book
Edwards, Honeyboy is very much an under the radar Blues musician who is connected deeply to the roots of the Delta Blues. This documentary's amazing, but there are more resources available about him than just the documentary.
#1 Do You Think This Documentary Is Blazing Hot?
I want to make sure you know about a guitar geek full-length film that's directed by Ethan Hawke. It was just released on August 17th, in theaters across Texas. I'm not sure of the trajectory of this movie but I just want it on your radar because it definitely piqued my interest and I think it will perk you guitar geek up as well. Check out my thoughts in this week's episode....
Tuesday Sep 04, 2018
Tuesday Sep 04, 2018
➜All show notes and links: https://acousticlife.tv/at54/
➜Get the show: https://tonypolecastro.com/get-acoustic-tuesday
Tuesday Aug 28, 2018
Tuesday Aug 28, 2018
➜All show notes and links: https://acousticlife.tv/at53/
➜Get the show: https://tonypolecastro.com/get-acoustic-tuesday
Featured in This Episode
#4 Special Guitar Seasoning
You know when you get a new guitar, they use terms like "Oh, it's stiff," or, "It needs to open up"? I've recently experienced this very thing. I just purchased a Thompson Dreadnought guitar with Cuban mahogany back and sides it's a newly made guitar, and it felt a little stiff when I first got it. In that, it wanted to be resonant, but it just wasn't quite giving its all. It still sounded good, don't get me wrong, it's just a new guitar. After two weeks though it doesn't sound so stiff, and guess what? I didn't even play it that much...
#3 What's On the Turntable This Week?
Today's artist feature comes courtesy of Acoustic Tuesday fan Ray R. from Mililani, Hawaii. Ray says, "(He is an) amazing guitarist and songwriter." I agree with Ray here, in fact, I think you will too. You may have even heard this individual before, but not in this particular context...
#2 Vintage Inspired Blues Machines
There's a luthier up in Madison, Wisconsin that you probably don't know about. He is making vintage inspired guitars, but not the vintage you are thinking of. Sure he loves old Martins and Gibsons like all guitar geeks do, but this luthier derives his inspiration from old department store type guitars... think old delta blues guitar players... yep those guitars...
#1 What A Guitar Case Is NOT Good For
Guitar cases are in fact guitar-saving and protecting devices. They help protect our guitars from knocks and bruises, dings and all sorts of things like that, but our guitar cases can actually cause damage to our guitars as well...
Tuesday Aug 21, 2018
Tuesday Aug 21, 2018
➜All show notes and links: https://acousticlife.tv/at52/
➜Get the show: https://tonypolecastro.com/get-acoustic-tuesday
#5 A New Album On The Horizon
A couple of episodes back on Acoustic Tuesday, I featured a singer/songwriter who has an incredible voice, and his songwriting is just, well, it's about as raw as it can get. He's like a word magician, and I gotta tell you, I was super pumped to find out this piece of knowledge...
#4 Mouth Watering Guitars From Virginia
When I first started playing guitar, I absolutely lusted after a particular guitar from this maker. I remember talking to my Dad. I'm like, "Dad, we have to go to these different shops and I have to try out these guitars I heard that they're amazing." And boy, was I right...
#3 What's On the Turntable This Week?
This artist is largely responsible for the start of my own personal guitar journey and I thought he absolutely needed to be mentioned in a show. For those that are familiar with him you should be reminded of his importance in the acoustic guitar world, and for those who have never heard his name, you are in for an absolute treat...
#2 What Happens When Two Guitar Geeks Are Stuck In a Room?
Every now and again you find yourself in the company of a true guitar geek. This happened very recently and you'll never guess who sat down for an interview here at Acoustic Life Studios...
#1 Are You Coming To The Pary?
It's official Acoustic Tuesday has turned one year old and of course, it is thanks to viewers like you. What birthday party would be complete without gifts? There actually is a gift with your name on it, you have to see it...
Tuesday Aug 14, 2018
Tuesday Aug 14, 2018
➜All show notes and links: https://acousticlife.tv/at51/
➜Get the show: https://tonypolecastro.com/get-acoustic-tuesday
#4 Beautiful Feedback Busting
Feedback is a bummer; It's loud, ornery, inconvenient, and can ruin an acoustic performance. It is the nature of the beast though... when you plug in an acoustic guitar at a certain volume it will feedback. Those black "Feedback Busters" exist but quite honestly I think those are as ugly as sin. So what is a guitar geek to do...
#3 What's On the Turntable This Week?
Judging by the amount of passion and mojo that pour out of every note this artist plays, he is very much a student of the blues. Whether playing a banjo, resonator guitar, or his 1930's Regal the tone and vibe of the blues seems to surround this fingerpicker. He delivers songs with grit, sweat, and a perfect imperfectness that keeps you coming back time and time again...
#2 Guitar Geek Library Expansion
Guitar geeks often get inspired by trying out new guitars. You play a different instrument and your mind goes into overdrive thinking of all of the possibilities that having that instrument could provide. This phenomenon is quite common amongst guitar lovers, but there are those rare moments when an instrument actually takes your breath away and leaves a mark on your guitar geek heart...
#1 History Told With Guitars
Hanging a guitar on a wall is a statement. It could mean so many things... things like "I play guitar," or "this guitar means a lot to my family and me," or even "in this house we love music." Just one guitar can make quite a profound statement, but what happens when there are 1700 of them...
Tuesday Aug 07, 2018
Tuesday Aug 07, 2018
➜All show notes and links: https://acousticlife.tv/at50/
➜Get the show: https://tonypolecastro.com/get-acoustic-tuesday
#4 A Life in the Shadows
This guitar geek film recommendation is brought to you by honorary guitar geek and Acoustic Tuesday viewer David M. I am super excited to watch this documentary because it contains footage and stories from some of the most important musicians in blues history...
#3 What's On the Turntable This Week?
This weeks listening selection is brought to you by Acoustic Tuesday fan and guitar geek, Steven W. He says this of the artist for the week, "Excellent songwriting, and the lead singer has one of the best voices I've heard...incredibly full of emotion and passion. Definitely, one of my favorite bands to just sit and listen to!"
#2 Quebec's Master Luthier
There is a guitar maker in Quebec that has absolutely hit the nail on the head when it comes to a powerful, responsive, and tonally rich fingerstyle guitar. I was able to say this with confidence before, but after having played one in person...
#1 Bust Your Guitar Rut Right Now
In every guitar journey, there are some hurdles and detours that all guitar geeks must deal with along the way, but nothing is more intimidating nor frustrating than the ultimate nemesis to any guitar geek...
Tuesday Jul 31, 2018
Tuesday Jul 31, 2018
➜Get the show: https://tonypolecastro.com/get-acoustic-tuesday
How To Live Your Very Best Acoustic Life...
A festival purely dedicated to guitar geeks is in the history books and if you want to know every detail and astonishing thing that happened then you must check this episode out.
The inaugural Acoustic Life Festival held in Bozeman, MT at the Rialto Theatre happened Friday, June 22, and Saturday June 23, 2018. It was two days of living the Acoustic Life to the max!!!
The Acoustic Life Festival was full of amazing moments both musical and personal. Between the artist performances, the open mic nights, the workshops, and the band performances so many friendships were started, transformations made, and guitar geek flags waved.
Make sure to check out all of the video recaps for some behind the scenes footage as well as the picture gallery for some candid shots of the open mic, the shows, and the guitar geekery that occurred at the very first of many Acoustic Life Festivals.
Acoustic Life Festival 2018 Behind the Scenes Links